7G 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE- GOSSIP. 



evidence to form decided conclusions about fritil- 

 lary preferences in the matter of trees and under- 

 wood. Very few of us have been fortunate enough 

 to see these three large Eritillaries in the course of 

 an hour. I am inclined to think that the Silver- 

 washed Eritillary (A. Paphia) is, at least occasion- 

 ally, an exception to the rule of centralization, since 

 I have noticed the insect flying indifferently along 

 the "ridings" of a wood, apparently distributed 

 pretty equally there. Many collectors of butterflies 

 find it rather slow work completing their array of the 

 Eritillaries, through the circumstance that their 

 season averages only a week or two ; their life being 

 so different from that of the gaudy Peacocks and 

 Tortoiseshells, individuals of which may be seen 

 sporting on the wing at various times from April to 

 September. And even those brisk little fellows, the 

 Coppers and Blues, "show up " at two or three 

 periods in the course of the season. 



tinental countries. But here, as Mr. Newman 

 seems to think, the larva, after its winter sleep, 

 comes out late to feed, and then, not entering the 

 pupa state till June or July, we may suppose its 

 emergence as a butterfly about August to be its 

 natural course. The species, though truly British, 

 is so rare that one hesitates to be too positive. That 

 our five species of Argynnis should all feed on the 

 plants belonging to the genus Viola is singular. The 

 statement of some entomologists, that the larva ot 

 A. Paphia also eats the nettle or wild raspberry has 

 been seriously doubted, the plants being so very 

 different to [the Violaceous order. But, as I have 

 previously pointed out in an entomological journal, 

 the occurrence of A. Euphrosyne in places where 

 there are few violets noticeable, or even none at all, 



Fig. 39. Silver-washed FritUlary {Argynnis Paphia), upper 

 side, male. 



Although the fact is tolerably well known, I may 

 mention that the resemblance borne by these butter- 

 flies to the lily, called by old writers the " Fritillary 

 flower," and once esteemed a choice ornament in 

 gardens, led to the appropriation of the name to 

 these butterflies by the earlier entomologists. The 

 wings in all the species bear tesselated spots, more 

 or less distinct. Another partial characteristic is 

 the possession of silvery spots or streaks found in 

 the Eritillaries of the genus Argynnis, but lacking 

 in those of the genus Melitcea. It is not necessary, 

 however, that 1 should proceed with any detailed 

 description of species fully represented in popular 

 works on Entomology, and I only purpose to give 

 a few jottings which may illustrate or supplement 

 what has been published about them. Of the group, 

 considered in their larval stage, it is curious to 

 observe that in all, or well-nigh all, the young 

 caterpillars hatch out in the autumn, and feed up in 

 the spring. A doubtful exception is the highly 

 prized " Queen of Spain " (A. Lathonia), and there, 

 as the perfect insect has been taken in September, 

 naturalists have conjectured that there must be two 

 kinds ; such is a fact in its life history in some con- 



Fig. 40. Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary (4. Selene), under 

 side, and upper side. 



though the common primrose grows plentifully, 

 allows us to form the suspicion that the latter may 

 be a food-plant of this species of Eritillary. We 

 meet with much difficulty in making out the habits 

 of these larvse, through their exceeding shyness. 

 Not satisfied with the concealment they may obtain 

 on the plants that form their food, some of them 

 quit the violets, and place themselves on other plants 

 in the neighbourhood. 



That splendid insect, the Silver-washed Eritillary 

 {A. Paphia), has undergone a sensible decrease in 

 numbers of late years, in all the localities noted for 

 it in the vicinity of London. Indeed, in several 

 places where it once abounded it has disappeared 

 altogether ; partly, of course, in consequence of the 

 grubbing-up of the woodlands ; but we cannot 

 excuse collectors of insects in toto. Probably it 

 may be deemed a fortunate circumstance, that the 

 larvse of Eritillaries are difficult to find, or other- 

 wise, the larger species, especially, would share the 

 fate of the large Copper Butterfly. In any wood or 

 park of some extent (for the lady Paphia rarely or 

 never condescends to take up her abode in a small 

 plantation or copse), throughout Englandund Ireland, 



